Vernon Byrum
Vernon Dale Byrum, 85, of Stigler was born Oct. 31, 1933, in Putnam to Vernon Haskell and Myrtie Pauline (Adair) Byrum and passed away on Sept. 10, 2019.
He married Barbara Ann Churchill in 1957. Dale graduated high school in Atoka and earned an Associates in Engineering in 1956 from Murray State in Tishomingo. After high school, he served in the Navy (Air Force) from 1951 through 1954. He joined on what was called a Kiddy Cruise as he was not yet 18 years old. Discharge had to be the day before turning 21.
After completing Boot Camp, Dale was assigned to Fighter Squadron VF112, Carrier Air Group Eleven. This Squadron had F9F-2 Panther Jets (Grumman) and was one of the first Navy Squadrons to get jets after WWII. Naval Schooling included 1952 G-2 Compass, Fuel Quantity, F9F Panther Jets, Correspondence course on Aviation Electrician Mate Vol II, and he helped teach new electricians about the Panther Jets and F9F-6 Cougar Jets. Medals and ribbons include the Presidential Unit Citation (VF112), Korean Presidential Citation, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Occupational Service Medal (Asia), Republic of Korea War Service Medal, Korean Service, China Service, National Defense Service and United Nations Service.
Dale retired in 1989 from Bell Telephone Laboratories and moved from Flanders, N.J. to Stigler in 1992. He was a lifetime member of the AQHA and VFW. He was a member of the American Legion, National Cutting Horse Association, American Cutting Horse Association and held a Life Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing License.
Dale is survived by two daughters, Gayladean Marie Byrum of Stigler and Paula Dale (Byrum) Marton and husband, Tony, of Pennsylvania; three grandchildren, Jeffrey Dale Marton and Brianna Katherine Marton of Florida and Ian Adair-Parker Marton of Pennsylvania and two sisters, Erma Dean Tankersly of Atoka and Joyce Fern Connelly of New Mexico.
Dale was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Byrum and one sister, Elma Lou Ray.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, at Stigler City Cemetery with the Rev. Daniel Milligan officiating. Burial is under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory of Stigler.
Viewing will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, at Mallory-Martin Funeral Home in Stigler.
Pallbearers will be John Labor, Jr., Doy Auberson, Stanley McAlester, Austin Brown, Jeff Dover and Keith Fields.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Thomas Conklin, Dr. Stephen Woodson and the men of the VFW.